Industrial truck



July 7, 1931.. E. J. ABBE 1,813,596

INDUSTRIAL TRUCK Filed Aug. 27, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l July 7, 1931. 555 7 1,813,596

INDUSTRIAL TRUCK Filed Aug. 27', 1928 2 Sheets-Shet '2 BMW Patented July 7, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EDWARD J. ABBE, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGFI'OR TO THE ELWELL PARKER ELECTRIC 00., OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO INDUSTRIAL TRUCK Application filed August 27, 1928. Serial No. 302,203.

This invention relates to load handling mechanism, and the general object is to provide a mechanism for transversely adjusting a load lifting element on an industrial truck or the like.

A specific object is to provide load carrier adjustment mechanism for an industrial truck or the like, wherein a plurality of load carrying elements may be rapidly,

accuratelyand easily adjusted to move such elements toward and away from each other. 'Further objects include the provision of a simple and eflicient load carrier adjusting mechanism by which a loaded or empty carrier may be shifted horizontally, as with reference to a truck, whereby the load may be accurately placed, or the carrier accurately positioned to receive a load, without having to very accurately maneuver the 0 truck.

A further object is to provide load carrier adjustment mechanism, wherein either the individual load carrying elements may be moved toward and away from each other zfito accommodate loads of difi'erent character, or such carrying elements may be shifted laterally as a unit, that is to say, without changing the relation of one of. such elements to another. 7

Further objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description relating to the accompanying drawings wherein the preferred forms are illustrated. The essential characteristics are summarized in the claims.

The truck herein shown is of the tier lift type, an example of which may be found in the prior application to Edward J. Abbe, Serial No. 166,087, filed February 5, 1927. Thishas a boom or trackway on which a carriage is mounted for vertical movement, and the carriage supports pivoted arms forming a load engaging and lifting fork. The fork is designed to be thrust beneath the load by maneuvering the truck, and thereafter, vertical movement of the carriage raises and deposits the load.

A specific problem solved by the invention is that loads, such for example as 59 stacked tin plates, may be effectively carried irrespective of variations in the dimensions of such plates. For very wide sheets the fork elements may be placed wide apart to better balance the load against tipping off. For comparatively narrow sheets the fork elements may be placed close together to enable the truck to be more easily maneuvered, as through narrow passageways.

A further problem solved is that in handling loads of any character the truck may be driven to the approximate load receiving or discharging position, and thereafter by causing the fork elements to move as a unit transversely of the load, in the desired direction, the load may (in loading) be received in proper balanced position on the fork, and (in unloading) it may be accurately placed, as in stacked relation to a previously deposited load. Further, the load may be received onto the fork from one position'relative to the truck, say at one side of the longitudinal axis of the truck, and discharged in the same or a different position relative to the truck. y

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an industrial truck with an embodiment of my invention associated therewith; Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the load carrying end of such truck, the main body of the truck being omitted; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary cross sectionalplan view-of one form of my load carrier adjusting mechanism, as indicated by the line 33 on Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 is a similar sectional plan view showing a modification of the parts illustrated in Fig. 3.

-Referring in detail to the drawings, the body of the truck comprises a battery housing 1 on a general frame 2, the latter having the forwardly extendin low slung portion 3 providing a support for dirigible wheels 7, a trackway or boom 4, andpower hoist 5. The main frame beneath the battery housing has a pair of traction wheels 6, suitably driven as by a motor' and gearing, not shown, carried within the frame 2. [he operators position on the truck is rearwardly of the .battery housing. He stands on a pivoted platform 10 forming part of the control mechanism of the truck, and in this posi-- free flanges o (not shown).

tion is in reach of certain other controls designated generally 11, and including a. steering arm for controlling. the diriglble wheels 7.

- The boom or trackway 4, as shown, is pivoted as at 12 to a bracket 13 on the low slung portion 3 of the frame, and the power hoist may be suitably arranged to tilt the trackway through a drum 15 and cable 16 attached thereto. As shown, the cable 16 runs over a sheave 17 on a bracket 18 at the upper end of the trackway 4, and is anchored to the truck as at 19 above the battery hous- The load engaging and lifting elements, namely, the fork mechanism and carriage, previously mentioned, are mounted to vertically traverse the trackway 4. As shown there is a carriage 25 having rollers 26 and 27, the rollers bearing on flanges (not shown) of upright members 4' forming part of the trackway 4. A second drum on the hoist, designated 28, has three cable stretches 29 attached thereto, which run under sheaves 30, then upwardly over sheaves 31, supported near the top of the trackway and then downwardly beneath a sheave 32 on the carriage. Further details of the carriage raising and boom tilting mechanism may be found in the above identified application.

The horizontal or transverse adjustment mechanism includes the carriage which, as shown, has an apron member 40 extending substantially across the front thereof. This apron member carries forwardly disposed structural an le members 42 and 43. The

5 the angle members form bearing sup orts for horizontally disposed screws and 45. The fork members, desi ated 46 and 47, have enlargements at t eir upper ends in threaded engagement with respective screws. To facilitate ,assembly, adjustment, etc., part of each enlargement comprises a removable internally threaded cap 49 secured to the fork members in the usual manner, as by screws or bolts Each fork member has a forward extension respectively designated 46 and 47 for engaging beneath a load.

At the outer end of each screw, there is a hand wheel, these being designated 50 and 51. The screws may have right and left hand threads respectively, wherefore, turning both screws in the same direction spaces the fork members equal'distances from the axis of the truck, toward or away from this axis, depending upon the direction of rotation of the screws.

The simplest form of the carrier adjusting mechanism is shown in Fig, 3, wherein bothright and left hand screw threads are formed on a common shaft or bar. With this form of mechanism, the operator of the truck may, by operating either hand wheel, space the fork members ,46 and 47 the desired distance, as determined by the character or size of the load. Obviously, the arrangement of Fig. 3 could be modified to provide, say, right hand screws at both ends of the shaft, in which case, rotation of the shaft will shift the fork members as a unit from one side to the other, depending upon the direction the shaft is rotated.

As set forth in the earlier part of this specification, it is desirable that the fork members may be either individually or unitarily moved toward one side or the other of the truck, as well as variably spaced from each other equal distances from the center of the truck. As illustrated in Fig. 4, the screws, designated 44a and 45a, are entirely separate from each other, that is to say, formed on separate shafts supported similarly to the single screw shaft of Fig. 3. The similar parts are numbered as in Fig. 3. In Fig. 4 the screw threads are the same on each screw.

It will be seen that with this form of mechanism, the operator may set the fork members 46 and 47 individually to an desired position. By the arrangement s own he .is also enabled to shift the load horizontally, after placement of the truck, by operating one hand wheel. To effect this, the screws may be locked together in any suitable manner. The locking means may comprise the usual type of sliding key clutch, including an internally toothed sleeve 54 splined onto the screw 45a, and adapted to enga e dental formations 55 on the inner end 0 the screw 44a. The positioxr of the sleeve may be controlled by means of a sliding rod 56 fastened in the usual manner to the sleeve 54 as by a pin 57 traveling in a slot (not shown) in the screw shaft 45a. The rod may'extend through the shaft to an operating part 58 on the hand wheel 51, which part may be latched in shaft locking position as by a pivoted dog 58 supported on the wheel. A compression spring 59 between the operating part 58 and the hand wheel may serve to normally hold the sleeve 54 in inactive position, as shown in Fig. 4.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to arrangements in which the load engaging elements of an industrial truck or like load handling mechanism are adjusted manually, as herein shown. Suitable arrangements by which load lifting members, such as the fork elements 46 and 47 hereof are adjusted by power under control of the operator of the truck, are shown, described and claimed in a separate, application, Serial No. 367,880, filed June 3, 1929. The separate application constitutes a division and continuation of this application.

In all forms of the invention herein illustrated, the fork members are pivoted about the screws-in such manner that they may be swung upwardly over the low slung frame alongside the members 4, so as to decrease the length of the truck, and facilitate handling the same in close clearances. I do not regard the particular suspension of the fork members as essential however. If desired, separate sliding guides maybe provided for the fork members, permitting them to be swung, the screws functioning only to move the fork members horizontally. By such modification, the size of the screws could be materially'reduced. I believe such an arrangement to be obvious to anyone skilled in the art, and it isvtherefore not illustra'ted.

I claim:

1. In an industrial truck, a plurality of individually movable load carrying members arranged to be raised and lowered to pick up and deposit a load, and means to that is without relative movement between carriage,

progressively move said members unitarily,

the members, transversely of the direction of movement of the truck.

2. In an industrial truck, a substantially upright guide at one end of the truck, a carriage mounted to traversethe guide, spaced horizontally movable load lifting fork members extending from and supported by said carriage, each fork being individually swingable in respective vertical planes, and means on said carriage having threaded connections with said fork members and, operable to cause the members to move laterally in a horizontal plane on the carriage and in constant spaced relation, and wherein the fork members may be individually swung about said last-named means to a position over the truck and carriage to decrease the overall length of the truck.

3. In an industrial truck, a front frame member forming an elevator guide, a carriage mounted to traverse the guide, a pair of horzontally disposed screws on. the

and load lifting members operatively connected with respective screws and adapted 'to bemoved thereby in a hor zontal direction, there being means to individually turn the screws to position the load lifting members.

At. Inmechanism of the kind described, a support, two relatively rotatable threaded members carried on the support, load lifting elements threadingly c0nnected to respective rotatable members for horizontal adjustment, and means to lock the rotatable members together to cause one to drive the other for simultaneous adjustment of said.

elements.

5. In a load lifting mechanism, a-carriage, a plurality of load lifting memberswsupported on the carriage, means with connections to cause said load lifting members to relatively approach each other and spread apart, and a deviceassociated with said as well as unitarily in a horizontal direction transversely of the path of movement of the truck.

7. In an industrial truck, an elevator mechanism including a frame mounted at one end of the truck, individually and horizontally adjustable load lifting members carried on the frame for accommodating loads varying in size and character, and means operatively connected to said load lifting members for moving said members'horizontally in unison, whereby the load lifting and depositing positions of said members may be simultaneously and unitarily changed to accommodate the position of a load to be picked up, or to accurately deposit a loadalready carried on said members, without moving the truck. I

8. In an industrial truck, a plurality of individually adjustable load carrying members projecting outwardly from the truck, the adjustment permitting the members to be variably spaced to accommodate loads varying in character, and means mounted on the truck and operatively connected to said members for moving the membershorizontally in unison, whereby a load carried on said members may be accurately deposited, with the truck in only approximate load depositing position.

9. In an industrial truck, a plurality of individually adjustable load carrying members projecting from the truck and adapted 'to pick up and, deposit a load, means for causing said members to be raised and lowered, adjusting means on the truck for variably spacing the members to accommodate loads of different character, said adjustingmeans being settable and thereafter operable to bodily shift a load by unitary movement of said members, whereby given loads may be picked up from various positions on deposited accurately in various positions without moving the truck.

10. In mechanism of the kind described, a frame, individual load lifting members supported by the frame for horizontal movemerit, a pair of screws respectively engaging 7 said members to move them as aforesaid, and means operable to drive the screws in relatively opposite directions to space said my signature.

EDWARD J. ABBE. 

